A NEWS REPORT

Blaze at charity bonfire damages warehouses Two firemen were overcome by fumes and several bystanders slightly injured in a fire last night at Paxton, Kent.

The blaze was caused when flames from a Guy Fawkes night bonfire organized in support of local charities spread to nearby warehouses.

Firemen battled against the flames for several hours before getting them under control, and at one time there were ten fire-engines in attendance at the blaze - the largest in this part of Kent for more than five years.

Strong winds hampered operations, and at first there were fears that showers of sparks might reach other warehouses some distance away, one of which - a paint-store - could have exploded.

But firemen succeeded in confining the outbreak to warehouses containing less inflammable materials.

The injured were allowed home after treatment at the local hospital, but one of the firemen was detained for observation.

Early this morning a dense pall of smoke hung over the warehouses while firemen continued to damp down the still-smouldering debris.

Damage According to the owner of the warehouses, local builders' merchant Mr. Arthur Peel, damage was "difficult to estimate at this stage".

"The warehouses worst affected contained a large quantity of timber and building materials," said Mr. Peel. "It seems unlikely that much of this can have escaped damage, in which case the cost is likely to run into several thousand pounds".

Interviewed at the scene last night, the Chief of the Paxton fire-brigade, 42 year old Mr. Fred Banks, who is responsible for bonfire-night safety measures in the district, said that he thought the fire was "very unfortunate".

The organisers had consulted him about the safety of the site, and he had approved it, "provided the bonfire itself was kept in the centre of the site, and that only wood was burnt on it".

It seemed, however, that someone had thrown paper on to the fire, and the strong wind had carried some of this to the warehouses.

There had also been reports that rival gangs of youths had been seen throwing fireworks at each other near the warehouses, and this might also have had something to do with the fire starting.

Asked about the advisability of allowing a fire at all so near to buildings, Mr. Banks pointed out that there was no other open space available, and that the risk involved was negligible - given that the safety regulations would be "strictly observed".

When told of the fire chief's remarks, the bonfire's organizer local businessman Mr. Ron Green, denied that anyone had put paper on the bonfire.

"Aware of danger" Mr. Green, 43, said that all the safety precautions suggested by the fire-brigade had been carried out in full - "We were well aware of the danger to the warehouses if these were not observed," he added.

The wind, in his opinion, had been the cause of the fire spreading. It had been "unexpectedly strong", and in spite of efforts by himself and his helpers some sparks had been blown on to the warehouse roofs.

When asked if he thought it was wise to go on using events in which there was an element of danger - such as bonfires - to raise money for charity, Mr. Green said that he could see no harm in it provided that the organizers took proper precautions.

Popular The function was a popular one with the local people and had raised a great deal of money over the years.